Policy and Legislation

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This week's top stories include the formation of Telehealth Access for America, which aims to protect and expand access to telehealth, and a last-minute deal that averted massive cuts to reimbursement to hospitals and physicians.</p>

In 2020, overdose deaths increased more than 30%, leading to more than 93,000 deaths, driven by fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine.

The AMA and others had urged Congress to act to avoid cuts of 9.7% from taking effect Jan. 1.

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Additional costs to states could be offset by lower administrative burdens and potentially improve health of enrollees, findings show.

Medicare spending on physician services totaled $82.9 billion in 2020, down from $95 billion the year prior, data shows.

The appeal is in response to court rulings saying the federal government overstepped its authority by not seeking Congressional approval.

Starting next month, health plans will cover at-home tests for the 150 million Americans with private health insurance, President Biden says.

CMS is focused on identifying improvements that would increase organ donations, improve transplants and enhance dialysis care.

In Missouri, a federal judge granted 10 states a preliminary injunction, and in Louisiana, the court issued a nationwide injunction.